TWR Rover - 1986 Group A

One of the best Group A touring cars in my opinion and I had to have a go at creating a scale version!

I have started with a 1:25 Polistil die cast road car and plan on modifying to create the TWR Group A racing version. So far I have made my own version of the Speedline 17 inch 5 spoke wheels, adjusted the sills which were incorrect and am in process of making later style front bumper and spoiler. I have also changed the shape of the rear windscreen because the early cars were straight across at the bottom, later ones were angled each side. Next step is the rear spoiler which is proving tricky to scratch build!

Photographs below show where I have got to so far. Hopefully get the rear spoiler completed tomorrow.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/002.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/002.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/010.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/010.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/153.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/153.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/167.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/167.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/173.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/173.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/170.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/170.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/163.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/163.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/164.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/164.jpg.html)

You may notice l have roughly drilled out 2 holes in one of the c pillars, these are for the air jack connection. Finally l have also cut out the rear number plate area so that l can make the fuel filler arrangement correctly.

great project. This was one of the nicest racing car ever imho.
It is not so easy to work with old die cast. good luck. I will follow you.

Thanks GT40, l agree about working with old die cast. Ruined 2 drillbits before l found one tough enough to do the job!

Rear spoiler completed except for some minor filling required. I have also filled in the gap in the rear panel below the rear lights with some styrene because it is continuous on the later cars. The photograph below is of the programme that I bought when I went to the race at Silverstone all those years ago!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4500.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4500.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4489.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4489.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4485.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4485.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4494.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4494.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4480.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4480.jpg.html)

I'll follow that one with great interest ! Didn't even know it existed in diecast...

I'll follow that one with great interest ! Didn't even know it existed in diecast...

Thanks, nether did I, I just happened to come across one on e-bay and thought that the shape didn't look too bad so decided to go for it!

Looking good. I know how much time & effort you've put in so far,especially on the wheels, which look really authentic!

Great project.

I never knew there was a 1/24-1/24 Rover SD1.

Would like to build one too...now

Great project.

I never knew there was a 1/24-1/24 Rover SD1.

Would like to build one too...now

Thanks, l think it is actually 1:25 scale. Well worth getting one if you like a challenge!

Great, love those unique, old Rovers. Can´t wait for more progress! :thumbsup:
Did you measure the body? Is it actually 1/25 or even smaller?

i have some good reference photos if you want them for the interior.

Great, love those unique, old Rovers. Can´t wait for more progress! :thumbsup:
Did you measure the body? Is it actually 1/25 or even smaller?

Thanks, as far as I can tell it is pretty much 1:25 not smaller.

i have some good reference photos if you want them for the interior.

Cheers, that would be a great help. I haven't managed to find many pictures of the interior. I have the Alan Scott book which is a good start but it doesn't have many photographs of the interior.

Not sure if you have seen this chap from England. He has some nice vintage photos from ETC races during the 1980's. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mendaman/albums

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77461910@N03/albums/72157663086223385

hope this link gets you there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77461910@N03/albums/72157663086223385

hope this link gets you there.

Thanks guys both links work and helpful, some great photos!

glad they left the wood trim in there - racing in style :lol:

btw. Viccario, is that your Pug 205? Cause I got one, too.

glad they left the wood trim in there - racing in style :lol:

btw. Viccario, is that your Pug 205? Cause I got one, too.

Yes, l raced it in Slick 50 Road Saloons series from 1996 to 2003, great car and excellent fun to race. I have a young family now so had to sell, hopefully do some more one day though!

How very cool. I guess you have already considered doing a 1/24 replica of that racer 205?
I would do mine if I could be bothered working on diecast :bloated:

A little bit of progress. I wasn't happy with the rear windscreen glass that comes with the car because it does not fit flush as it does on the real car, (this can be seen in the photographs on the first page.) I have therefore made my own and had hoped to simply be able to lay it on top of the original glass. This didn't work very well because it would not sit correctly and I have had to cut out the original glass and replace it with my own version. Cutting out the original glass was very fraught because it was difficult not to damage the side windows. I also hoped that I might be able to still use the original version after I had cut it out but unfortunately it cracked during the removal process.

I have managed to get an interference type fit which should mean that i will be able to use a minimal amount of glue when permanently attaching to the body later. Next will be the rear bumper and rear wheel spats that locate in front of the rear arches.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4886.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4886.jpg.html)
Photo showing original cracked glass after removal.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4887.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4887.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4888.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4888.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4892.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4892.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4899.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4899.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4900.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4900.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e128/Viccario1/IMG_4903.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Viccario1/media/IMG_4903.jpg.html)

How very cool. I guess you have already considered doing a 1/24 replica of that racer 205?
I would do mine if I could be bothered working on diecast :bloated:

Thanks, yes I have started a 1:18 version that I am converting from a rally car but I may do it in a different colour yet.

It's been a while but I have finally managed to complete a lot of the bodywork modifications including:

Creating a hole in the bonnet for the electrical cut off
Modifying the rear bumper to later version
Addition of the correct type of door mirrors in the window rather than the doors
Addition of the compressed air jacking cutouts to the C pillar on the passenger side
Addition of fuel filler and vent to rear of car where the number plate is normally located
Addition of recess to rear for boot hold down clips.
Completed creation of the spats that are positioned in front of the rear wheels
Addition of chrome surrounds around headlights completed using fuse wire
Modified headlights to later type.
Addition of hole in roof for radio aerial.
Completed white primer coat

Hopefully the photograph below works, it was taken a while ago and is not great quality. I hope to be able to add a number of better photographs in the next couple of days showing all of the progress so far.


https://i.postimg.cc/kgVwN5QN/IMG-20190407-082847.jpg (https://postimg.cc/SnhWkktj)

Here are some WIP photos.

Below shows start of creating the rear modified section that houses the fuel filler and vent.

https://i.postimg.cc/Kjtv703t/IMG-7900.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jndbtQXj)

https://i.postimg.cc/288SL78L/IMG-8171.jpg (https://postimg.cc/yWtHw9R7)

This one shows the fuse wire that I used to create the headlight surrounds.

https://i.postimg.cc/R08Mjkcc/IMG-8029.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GBFwDSg2)

Second coat of primer after lots of time consuming minor tweaks to fill imperfections etc.

https://i.postimg.cc/qqZV3nj2/IMG-8218.jpg (https://postimg.cc/WqrHRDR4)

https://i.postimg.cc/NMzp84vG/IMG-8216.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8JLRNLCx)

https://i.postimg.cc/rFx2md5R/IMG-8219.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Xpjz1YHn)

I'm pretty pleased with how it looks now, a lot more like the TWR version I think! Below show where I have got to so far. Next step is to start on the interior roll cage etc. which will be a challenge!

https://i.postimg.cc/YCMZCdpT/IMG-8233.jpg (https://postimg.cc/gntNMqLK)

https://i.postimg.cc/RFHXRtSc/IMG-8294.jpg (https://postimg.cc/yg7m6kSd)

https://i.postimg.cc/y8pjCjWm/IMG-8295.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0zmDppYj)

The pic below shows a photograph of a TWR Rover rear fuel filler arrangement that I based my version on.

https://i.postimg.cc/vmLm6q99/IMG-7998.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Jy08fQp4)

https://i.postimg.cc/5tZm6tBj/IMG-8297.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3yFGqYbH)

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0xNnfJm/IMG-3740.jpg (https://postimg.cc/H8V7j5Wp)

https://i.postimg.cc/2yChZLVj/IMG-8302.jpg (https://postimg.cc/1nY8xtGb)

https://i.postimg.cc/7Ys056DD/IMG-8300.jpg (https://postimg.cc/56z6Gf6k)

So nice to have this one back. I was afraid, you might have lost interest in that model.
Great progress so far! I would probably glue the front doors closed to get nicer and smaller panel lines.

Thanks for the comments DasWiesel l have actually glued the front doors shut already because the fit wasn't very good and to make sure that they aligned properly. The doors also scraped and damaged the paint when opened. I have also added additional material to the RHS driver's door to improve the shutline which you can see in some of the earlier photographs.

I did think about adding some more material to the other door but the fit is a lot better and I think when l darken the shutlines on the rear doors it will look ok. The photographs appear to exaggerate the difference because of the white primer l think.

WOW!!!
amazing work so far!!!!

Nice work! Before its too late, I suggest you you glue the front doors in and fill in the gaps. Would look much cleaner IMO.

Nice work! Before its too late, I suggest you you glue the front doors in and fill in the gaps. Would look much cleaner IMO.

Thanks 360spider, l have already glued the doors shut to get the correct alignment but agree the gaps do look a bit large. I am not sure of the best method to use to try and fill them. I have used car body filler for the rest of the model but I'm worried that it will break up when l try and re-scribe the panel lines, also worried if l add more primer that l will start to lose details.

Any good ideas gratefully received!

Cheers

Looking good. I know how much effort it's taken to get this far as I've seen your actual model in progress. I think the photos and lighting make the panel gaps look worse than they are, and when you add panel lines to the rear doors it will look a lot better ☺

Thanks 360spider, l have already glued the doors shut to get the correct alignment but agree the gaps do look a bit large. I am not sure of the best method to use to try and fill them. I have used car body filler for the rest of the model but I'm worried that it will break up when l try and re-scribe the panel lines, also worried if l add more primer that l will start to lose details.

Any good ideas gratefully received!

Cheers




Hi Viccario, really great build, I really like the car and what you made out of it! For the door panels, may I suggest a simple and sure method, mix some super glue with talcum (you can adjust the thickness of it by just adding more talcum). This becomes a white paste which you can put into the door lines. It dries very fast and very easy to shape and sand. The advantage of this method that it is based on super glue and surely stays in the smallest holes unlike other fillers. I recommend you should test it before using it on your Rover. :smile:

Hi Viccario, really great build, I really like the car and what you made out of it! For the door panels, may I suggest a simple and sure method, mix some super glue with talcum (you can adjust the thickness of it by just adding more talcum). This becomes a white paste which you can put into the door lines. It dries very fast and very easy to shape and sand. The advantage of this method that it is based on super glue and surely stays in the smallest holes unlike other fillers. I recommend you should test it before using it on your Rover. :smile:

Thanks for the help Corrado, will definitely give that a go and make sure I test on something else first. Not sure where to get the talcum from though or could I use any type of perfumed talcum powder that is available from a chemist type shop?

Cheers

I use the cheapest ordinary baby talcum, you can get in any grocery store at the baby section. If not, try pharmacy :)

I use the cheapest ordinary baby talcum, you can get in any grocery store at the baby section. If not, try pharmacy :)

Ok great, thanks for the quick reply! Will go to the pharmacy at the weekend and give it a try!

You are welcome Viccario. The other good thing with the superglue/tacum filler that it stays relatively soft and white, so you can easyly rescribe the doorpanel and don't have to reprimer the body. Believe me, it is really easy, once you'll try this method, you'll always use it for small fillings and repairs. :)

You are welcome Viccario. The other good thing with the superglue/tacum filler that it stays relatively soft and white, so you can easyly rescribe the doorpanel and don't have to reprimer the body. Believe me, it is really easy, once you'll try this method, you'll always use it for small fillings and repairs. :)

Brilliant, sounds ideal!

Hello Viccario, I am just using this superglue/talcum method on one of my model. I made some photos to explain the process. It is very easy and fast process, mix a small amount of superglue with talcum, apply with a toothpick, wait two three minutes until it is dried, cut the excess with an X-acto and sand it. The superglue is guaranteed to stick to the surface better than any kind of filler. I really recommend it since I don't know a faster and more efficient way of filling small areas! :smile:



https://i.imgur.com/wOZjrU0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A81eD7j.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fCizb5a.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RIjcrsb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4TrarLP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QjMSFDf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SoMWHS1.jpg

Hello Viccario, I am just using this superglue/talcum method on one of my model. I made some photos to explain the process. It is very easy and fast process, mix a small amount of superglue with talcum, apply with a toothpick, wait two three minutes until it is dried, cut the excess with an X-acto and sand it. The superglue is guaranteed to stick to the surface better than any kind of filler. I really recommend it since I don't know a faster and more efficient way of filling small areas! :smile:



https://i.imgur.com/wOZjrU0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A81eD7j.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fCizb5a.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RIjcrsb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4TrarLP.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QjMSFDf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SoMWHS1.jpg

Excellent, thanks Corrado!

Took on board the comments about the panel lines and have had a go at filling them using Corrado's super glue mixed with talc method, thanks for the tip Corrado. Was a bit fraught but worth the effort as it looks better than before I think.

https://i.postimg.cc/0y8Q6PMW/IMG-8447.jpg (https://postimg.cc/QHyswLq1)

https://i.postimg.cc/Y2WjZXB3/IMG-8448.jpg (https://postimg.cc/NLQgrkM9)

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0McXqwT/IMG-8450.jpg (https://postimg.cc/DJjY0h0c)

Looks really great Viccario! I am glad that you had the confidence and this superglue/talc method worked well for you! The result shows it well. :smile:

For sure, we are here to help and learn from each other.